A two-time Academy Award winner, Maggie Smith won her first Oscar for the title role in 1969's THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, for which she also won a BAFTA Award and earned a Golden Globe Award nomination. A decade later, she won her second Oscar, as well as Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations, for her role in CALIFORNIA SUITE. Smith earned her sixth and most recent Oscar nomination for her performance in Robert Altman's GOSFORD PARK, also receiving Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations. Among her myriad film acting honours, Smith also garnered Oscar nominations for her performances in OTHELLO, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT and A ROOM WITH A VIEW, winning BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards for the latter. In addition, she won BAFTA Awards for TEA WITH MUSSOLINI, A PRIVATE FUNCTION and THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE.

On film, Smith was most recently seen starring alongside Bill Nighy, Judi Dench and Dev Patel in John Madden's THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, and as Professor McGonagall in the blockbusting HARRY POTTER films. Her many other credits include NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS, BECOMING JANE, LADIES IN LAVENDER, RICHARD III, SISTER ACT, HOOK, DEATH ON THE NILE and THE HONEY POT.

On television, she is currently starring in the enormously popular ITV drama series DOWNTON ABBEY. She earlier won an Emmy Award for her performance in the 2003 HBO movie MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA. In 2010, she received her fourth Emmy nomination for her work in the HBO movie CAPTURING MARY. She previously earned Emmy nods for her roles in the telefilms SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER and DAVID COPPERFIELD, gaining a BAFTA TV Award nomination for the latter. Additionally, she earned BAFTA TV Award nominations for MEMENTO MORI, MRS. SILLY, and TALKING HEADS.

Smith started acting on the stage in 1952 with the Oxford University Drama Society, and made her professional debut in New York in THE NEW FACES OF 1956 REVUE. Three years later, she joined the Old Vic Company, where she won the 1962 Evening Standard's Best Actress Award for her roles in THE PRIVATE EAR and THE PUBLIC EYE. Joining the National Theatre in 1963, Smith played Desdemona to Laurence Olivier's OTHELLO. Her notable appearances with the National Theatre also
include productions of BLACK COMEDY, MISS JULIE, THE COUNTRY WIFE, THE BEAUX STRATAGEM, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and HEDDA GABLER. Throughout her career, Smith has continued to appear on the stages of London and New York. She won a Tony Award for her performance in LETTICE AND LOVAGE, and had earlier received Tony Award nominations for NIGHT AND DAY and PRIVATE LIVES.

Smith became a Dame of the British Empire in 1990. She is also a Fellow of the British Film Institute, and, in 1993, won a BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award.